Can Sam Houston's Late Surge Overturn UTEP's Dominance at Don Haskins Center?
The Sam Houston State Bearkats faced a challenging opponent in the Miners, culminating in a 61-66 defeat. The Bearkats' season record now stands at 0-1, while the Miners have kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 start. Despite a strong opening quarter from the Bearkats with 21 points to the Miners' 18, they couldn't maintain their lead throughout the game.
The Bearkats showed resilience and determination on the court. They outscored their opponents in fast break points by one point and matched them in second chance points with fifteen each. Their defense managed to secure seven steals over the course of play, showcasing their ability to disrupt the Miners' offense.
Offensively, Sam Houston was led by an impressive three-point shooting display, sinking eight shots from beyond the arc at a rate of twenty-seven percent. They also demonstrated an ability to share the ball effectively with fourteen assists leading to scores. However, they struggled inside against a tough Miner defense that held them to forty-two percent shooting on two-point attempts.
The home team capitalized on their opportunities inside, converting seventy percent of their two-point shots and scoring thirty points in paint compared to sixteen by Sam Houston. The Miners also had an edge defensively with three blocks and five steals contributing to seventeen turnovers for Sam Houston.
Despite trailing going into halftime after being outscored eighteen-thirteen in the second quarter, Sam Houston fought back valiantly after intermission posting eighteen points against ten by UTEP in third quarter action but ultimately fell short as UTEP closed out strongly with twenty points in final period.
Sam Houston's fans witnessed some standout individual performances despite facing personal foul trouble which amounted to twenty-three fouls over four quarters of play compared to sixteen by UTEP.
Looking ahead for fans of The Bearkats is another opportunity for victory when they host Western Kentucky Lady Toppers at Bernard Johnson Coliseum located at 77340 Huntsville TX USA on February 1st scheduled for tip-off at 6:30 PM local time (Central Time). This upcoming match can be followed live as it unfolds for those unable or unwilling make it down there themselves – ensuring no one misses moment action-packed basketball featuring The Bearkats!